Morgan Square ice rink not quite ready for skaters

Ice rink

Josh Baker, with the city of Spartanburg, puts some finishing touches to the ice, just before the grand opening of the new ice rink in downtown Spartanburg on Friday evening.

TIM KIMZEY/tim.kimzey@shj.com

From staff reports

Published: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 3:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 3:04 p.m.

Spartanburg residents are going to have to wait a little longer for their first spins around downtown's new ice skating rink.

The rink, which is located in Morgan Square, was supposed to open to the public at 3 p.m., but the ice wasn't formed enough. The city still plans to have a grand opening ceremony and activities at 5:30 p.m. today, and plan to try the ice again at that time – though it is unclear whether the ice will be fully formed tonight.

"The rink is in full sun. It's not shaded at all and that makes it difficult to keep the ice frozen when the temperatures reach 60 and 65 degrees and higher,” said City Engineering Administrator Tim Carter. “We're hoping that people will be able to skate tonight and that we'll have cooler temperatures so everybody can skate.”

People who showed up at the rink to skate for free this afternoon are being given passes for a later date.

<p>Spartanburg residents are going to have to wait a little longer for their first spins around downtown's new ice skating rink.</p><p>The rink, which is located in Morgan Square, was supposed to open to the public at 3 p.m., but the ice wasn't formed enough. The city still plans to have a grand opening ceremony and activities at 5:30 p.m. today, and plan to try the ice again at that time – though it is unclear whether the ice will be fully formed tonight.</p><p>"The rink is in full sun. It's not shaded at all and that makes it difficult to keep the ice frozen when the temperatures reach 60 and 65 degrees and higher,” said City Engineering Administrator Tim Carter. “We're hoping that people will be able to skate tonight and that we'll have cooler temperatures so everybody can skate.”</p><p>People who showed up at the rink to skate for free this afternoon are being given passes for a later date.</p><p>At 3 p.m., the temperature in Spartanburg was nearly 60 degrees.</p>